BST vs. GCOW

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

BST (BlackRock Science and Technology Trust) is a stock, while GCOW (Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF) is Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividends Index. Over the past 10 years, BST returned 20.54%/yr vs 9.91%/yr for GCOW. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

BST vs. GCOW - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BST achieves a 24.81% return, which is significantly higher than GCOW's 12.18% return. Over the past 10 years, BST has outperformed GCOW with an annualized return of 20.54%, while GCOW has yielded a comparatively lower 9.91% annualized return.

BST

• 1D: -1.50%
• 1M: 14.60%
• YTD: 24.81%
• 6M: 28.67%
• 1Y: 46.47%
• 3Y*: 23.83%
• 5Y*: 5.46%
• 10Y*: 20.54%

GCOW

• 1D: -0.56%
• 1M: 0.09%
• YTD: 12.18%
• 6M: 13.23%
• 1Y: 27.12%
• 3Y*: 17.41%
• 5Y*: 12.34%
• 10Y*: 9.91%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BST vs. GCOW - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BST BlackRock Science and Technology Trust	24.81%	23.65%	17.96%	30.07%	-38.28%	-0.35%	69.27%	34.57%	8.84%	57.43%
GCOW Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF	12.18%	27.34%	3.52%	13.95%	5.49%	14.58%	-4.33%	17.81%	-7.99%	20.71%

Correlation

The correlation between BST and GCOW is 0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.06
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.23
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.37
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.42
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 24, 2016	0.41

Over the past year, the correlation between BST and GCOW has dropped to 0.06 - well below their long-term average of 0.41, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

BST vs. GCOW — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BST

BST Risk / Return Rank: 88
BST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
BST Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
BST Omega Ratio Rank: 90
BST Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
BST Martin Ratio Rank: 87

GCOW

GCOW Risk / Return Rank: 79
GCOW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 76
GCOW Sortino Ratio Rank: 79
GCOW Omega Ratio Rank: 72
GCOW Calmar Ratio Rank: 90
GCOW Martin Ratio Rank: 77

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BST vs. GCOW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	BST	GCOW	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.59	2.52	+0.06
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.47	3.63	-0.16
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.45	1.44	+0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.05	5.71	-2.66
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	10.09	15.05	-4.96
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BST vs. GCOW - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BST Sharpe Ratio is 2.59, which is comparable to the GCOW Sharpe Ratio of 2.52. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BST and GCOW, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BST	GCOW	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.59	2.52	+0.06
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.23	0.92	-0.69
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.80	0.61	+0.19
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.66	0.59	+0.08

Drawdowns

BST vs. GCOW - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BST drawdown since its inception was -47.72%, which is greater than GCOW's maximum drawdown of -37.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BST and GCOW.

Drawdown Indicators

	BST	GCOW	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-47.72%	-37.64%	-10.08%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.31%	-4.77%	-10.54%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-23.37%	-12.35%	-11.02%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-47.72%	-21.48%	-26.24%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-47.72%	-37.64%	-10.08%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.50%	-2.73%	+1.23%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-12.98%	-5.84%	-7.14%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.62%	1.81%	+2.81%

Volatility

BST vs. GCOW - Volatility Comparison

BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) has a higher volatility of 6.35% compared to Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW) at 2.85%. This indicates that BST's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GCOW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BST	GCOW	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.35%	2.85%	+3.50%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	15.24%	7.99%	+7.25%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.07%	10.81%	+7.26%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.61%	13.49%	+10.12%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	25.75%	16.20%	+9.55%

Dividends

BST vs. GCOW - Dividend Comparison

BST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.56%, more than GCOW's 4.43% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BST BlackRock Science and Technology Trust	8.56%	10.36%	8.21%	8.91%	10.57%	5.38%	3.85%	10.52%	6.41%	4.80%	6.69%	6.93%
GCOW Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF	4.43%	4.06%	5.14%	5.28%	4.39%	4.23%	4.12%	4.40%	3.94%	2.79%	1.95%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BST and GCOW in my portfolio?

BST and GCOW have a correlation of 0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BST or GCOW?

BST has higher volatility (6.35%) compared to GCOW (2.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BST dropped -47.72% vs GCOW's -37.64%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BST currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.59 vs 2.52), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.